Preston North End told to take transfer action amid "worrying" situation | OneFootball

Preston North End told to take transfer action amid "worrying" situation | OneFootball

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Football League World

·6 August 2025

Preston North End told to take transfer action amid "worrying" situation

Article image:Preston North End told to take transfer action amid "worrying" situation

FLW's Preston North End fan pundit has given his verdict on the club's spending and attacking options ahead of QPR clash

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…


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Preston North End have made one signing this summer that they paid a transfer fee for with their deal for Odeluga Offiah from Brighton.

Other signings include the likes of Daniel Iversen, Thierry Small and Jordan Thompson, among others, but they all arrived as free agents.

Paul Heckingbottom has overseen the arrival of one new forward, bringing in Michael Smith after his sudden departure from Sheffield Wednesday.

But with the opening league game of the new season coming this weekend, questions remain as to whether the Lilywhites have enough firepower up front in their squad to improve on their 20th place finish in the table from the previous campaign.

Preston’s attacking depth concern

Article image:Preston North End told to take transfer action amid "worrying" situation

When asked about the club’s spending and attacking options, FLW’s Preston fan pundit Darren Watson raised his concerns over the team’s lack of a clinical finisher.

He believes Daniel Jebbison and Milutin Osmajic both lack that cutting edge at this level, and he is worried going into the new season about how many goals are in the side.

“I am a bit concerned really with the threat on goal, knowing obviously we are goal shy,” Watson told Football League World.

“I do think we need some additions to the squad before the game against QPR, and I really thought the club would have made some sort of changes, or go out and get a loan striker or maybe a permanent striker in.

“I don’t think we score enough goals, I don’t think Osmajic has that edge to him to go out and be that clinical finisher we need.

“Obviously, I need to see a bit more from Jebbison in the pre-season so far I don’t think he was all there.

“I’ve seen glimpses of what he could be, but again just no goals in pre-season, and it’s really, really difficult for me to think about where goals are going to come from.

“Obviously we don’t know yet what’s going to happen with Osmajic’s FA case, and again Jebbison will have to prove himself.

“It’s just that lack of threat in front of goal that we need, we need that clinical finishing edge and personally, for me, it’s a bit worrying to go into the season now.”

Preston urged to spend before the transfer window shuts

Watson has urged Preston to go out and spend money before the market shuts on 1 September, particularly stressing the need for attacking reinforcements.

“And just to add to that as well, obviously I am a bit concerned that we haven’t spent money,” he continued.

“Peter Ridsdale did mention that this season is the season where we can go out and spend the cash because financial fair play didn’t kick in for us in the certain terms because of how much money we’ve recuperated from the previous seasons, and the FA Cup run and the Carabao Cup run.

“Now, if we take a look at the bigger picture, the likes of Wrexham and Birmingham have spent big because their revenues are much, much bigger from the owners and the city itself, Birmingham for example picking up a larger fan base.

“But I am a bit concerned that we’ve not actually spent the money.

“The only player we’ve really spent money on is Offiah from Brighton, and I think that was in the region of £1.4 million, which was a steal for a player like him.

“But I am really concerned that we haven’t gone out and spent the cash because I do feel like it’s coming now to the start of the season and the goal threat isn’t there.

“We haven’t got a clinical striker that can go out and get us 10, 15, maybe even 20 goals a season.

“And I’m just struggling to figure out now where our threat on goal is going to come from.

“We’ve had a lot of time, a lot of time to go out and buy a clinical striker, or even get one on loan that’s a proven goal scorer.

“But we’ve seemed to prioritise free transfers, players that are out of contract, other than actually building that goal threat, and getting that clinical striker in.”

Preston will get their season underway with a trip to face QPR on 9 August in a 3pm kick-off.

Article image:Preston North End told to take transfer action amid "worrying" situation

Preston’s lack of consistent goal scorer will be a problem

Preston struggled for goals last season, and was a major factor in why they were almost relegated from the Championship.

Heckingbottom has proven himself as a top tier manager at this level, previously leading Sheffield United to promotion in 2023.

He should be backed in the transfer market, and a new leading number nine would be a great way to show their commitment to him as their head coach.

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